Skirt marker



I F. HAGNER SKIRT MARKER April 11, 1939.

Filed March 5, 1938 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention has to do with apparel apparatus, particularly with means for marking skirts.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby the wearer of a skirt, in correct standing posture, may have the skirt properly marked with a circumferential row of marks a predetermined distance from the floor to indicate the desired length of the skirt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character generally stated which is wholly automatic in operation, and by the use of which, therefore, the wearer of the skirt may have the latter easily and accurately marked for the proper length without the assistance of a seamstress or other assistant.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a skirt marker for the accomplishment of these purposes which is of simple construction, which involves the use of but few simple, inexpensive and readily assembled parts, which has 1 its parts so arranged and confined as to minimize the opportunity for wear or breakage, and which when not in use may be folded or collapsed so as to occupy a minimum of space in storage.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the skirt mark-- er of my invention and illustrating the manner in which the same is used,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the operative parts of the mechanism and illustrating the same on a slightly enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a top plan view, parts broken away, of the mechanism as shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of the chalk holder applied to the measuring staff.

The invention comprehends generally a base or platform of light construction and of sufficient strength to support the weight of an individual, upon which is mounted a rotating member including an arm carrying a chalk or other marker, and a fixed anvil or impression plate adjacent thereto, against which the chalk wipes or rubs at each rotation of the arm. The arm includes a staff portion having graduations thereon so that the chalk holder may be adjusted and looked in position the proper distance in inches from the platform. The arrangement is such that with' an individual standing upon the platform with her skirt disposed between the staff and impres- I, sion plate, a mark will be made upon the skirt with each rotation of the staff, the location of the mark depending upon the setting or adjustment of the chalk holder. At such time as the chalk moves away from the plate the person upon the platform turns slightly so that the next i0 impression will make a mark upon the skirt spaced from the mark immediately preceding. After the body has turned 360 the skirt will be impressed with a series of marks entirely around the same to accurately indicate the proper length.

Referring now to the drawing, 5 represents a base made of any suitable material and of a proper size to accommodate the mechanism hereinafter detailed and sufiiciently strong to support the weight of an individual. The mechanism for rotating the marker may take any desired form, in the present instance a spring motor being employed for this purpose. This motor includes a spring 6 secured at one end to a post I and at the other to a shaft 8, a key 9 being secured to the shaft for the purpose of tensioning the spring. The shaft is also equipped with a ratchet wheel ID engaged by a pawl H to lock the shaft against unwinding action when not in use. Afiixed to the shaft 8 is a gear l2 in mesh with a similar gear l3 secured to a shaft l4 disposed parallel to the shaft 8. The shaft M has affixed thereto a sprocket 15, over which passes a chain [6 trained over a sprocket ll disposed more or less remote from shaft M. The sprocket ll is secured to a spindle 58 parallel with shaft It. All of this mechanism is properly housed within a cover or casing I9 secured in any preferred manner upon the top of the base 5 and near one end thereof. It is obvious from the mechanism described that the spring 6 may be tensioned by rotating the key 9, and the gear train and sprockets may be set in motion by releasing the pawl H from the ratchet Ill.

The spindle l8 has affixed thereto an arm 20 disposed at right angles to the spindle and substantially parallel to the platform 5. This arm includes a staff portion 2| hinged as at 22 to the arm proper, the outer portion of the staff extending upwardly when in operative position parallel with spindle IS. The hinge 22 permits of the outer portion of the staff being swung downwardly into substantially parallelism with the base when the device is not in use.

The upstanding portion of the staff 2| is graduated by inches and fractions thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and adjustably mounted upon this staff is a chalk holder indicated generally at 23. This holder may take any desired form, and in the present instance has an opening near one end through which the staff 2| projects. A look screw 24 threaded in the holder impinges the staff so as to maintain the holder firmly in adjusted position. The holder has afiixed therein a chalk, soap stone or other marker represented at 25.

Pivoted between suitable ears 26 rising from the base 5 is an impression plate or anvil indicated at 2?. This impression plate, when in upstanding position, is disposed parallel to arm 25, and at such distance therefrom that the chalk 25 carried by holder 23 wipes across the same upon rotation of the spindle. When in collapsed or inoperative position, the impression plate 2? may be swung downwardly upon the upper face of the base 5, whereupon the staff 2i may be swung downwardly over the same after the chalk holder has been removed.

In operation, the spring is tensioned in the manner described, the staff 2| and impression plate 2'! are adjusted to upstanding position and the chalk holder 23 is adjusted upon the staff to indicate the desired length of the skirt. The person wearing the skirt stands upon the platform with the fabric of the skirt interposed between the impression plate and the staff 2|, whereupon the spring motor is set in operation. The spindle I8 is rotated, carrying with it the arm 20 and staff 25, and at each complete rotation of the spindle the chalk 25 wipes across the skirt backed by the impression plate. As the spindle continues to rotate the person upon the platform turns slightly whereupon the next mark will be made more or less remote from its predecessor depending upon the degree of movement of the individual. When the individual has moved throughout 360 the skirt will carry a series or circumferential row of marks entirely around the same and the proper distance from the floor.

The specific motor herein referred to depicts only a conventional type of motive means which may be employed to rotate the spindle l8. It will be understood that any other desired or approved mechanism for this purpose may be employed Without departing from the spirit of the invention. The impression plate 21 may be connected to the ears 26 with a tight hinge in order to remain stationary when in vertical position or may be held in vertical position by a shoulder or lug 28 projecting inwardly from one of the ears 26.

In Figure 2 of the drawing, the staff 21 is shown as having applied thereto a facing 29, which may be of cloth or any other material suitable to offer resistance to the skirt during the marking operation to prevent slippage. This material may be applied in any desired manner or may be omitted entirely, as conditions require.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a skirt marker of extremely simple construction, which is capable of adequately accomplishing the various objects set forth and one which will prove entirely practical and efficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. In a skirt gage, a driven spindle, an arm affixed to said spindle, a staff hinged to said arm and normally disposed parallel with said spindle, an impression plate hinged adjacent to said spindle and adapted to parallel the latter, a chalk holder adjustably mounted on said staff, and chalk in said holder adapted to wipe across said plate with each rotation of the said spindle.

2. In a skirt gage, a base, a driven spindle rising from said base, an arm afiixed to said spindle and disposed at right angles thereto, a staff hinged to said arm, said staff adapted to assume positions parallel with either said spindle or said arm, an impression plate hinged to said base, a chalk holder adjustably mounted on said staff, said staff and plate adapted to lie superimposed upon one another on said base when in inoperative position.

3. In a skirt gage, a base, a driven spindle rising from said base, an arm secured to and projecting laterally from said spindle, a staff hingedly connected to the outer end of said arm, said staff adapted to assume position parallel with said spindle, and a chalk holder carried by said staff.

4. In a skirt gage, a base, a driven spindle ris- I to said base and normally disposed parallel to 5 said spindle, a staff hinged to said spindle and normally disposed parallel to said plate, and a chalk holder carried by said staff and adapted upon each rotation of said spindle to engage with said plate; said staff and plate adapted to hinge and lie parallel with said base.

FRANCES HAGNER. 

